Dallaglio not scared of painful challenge

Lawrence Dallaglio led his England squad into Dunedin today and admitted that he is relishing a Carisbrook confrontation with the All Blacks.

The world champions flew south from their Auckland training base knowing that a hostile home crowd and new-look All Blacks team await them on Saturday.

New Zealand have lost just three times in 101 years at their so-called "House of Pain", a daunting venue where only the Lions (1930 and 1971) and Australia (2001) have managed victories.

England are also without 14 of their triumphant World Cup squad, but Dallaglio said: "The World Cup was a long time ago. There has been a lot of rugby played since then. It's in the past from my point of view.

"I am sure that both teams would have liked a bit more preparation time, so it's going to be an interesting battle of who finds their feet first.

"New Zealand haven't played a Test match since the World Cup. A lot of things have changed for them since then and there has been a little bit of time since our last game.

"We've now got a different look about our team - a look that I am quite pleased with."

England will field only three survivors - Josh Lewsey, Matt Dawson and Danny Grewcock - from the under-strength side that were crushed 64-22 by New Zealand in Dunedin six years ago.

But there is a quiet confidence that they can complete a hat-trick of victories over the All Blacks for the first time since 1905.

England displayed commitment and strength of character to defeat New Zealand in Wellington last June - especially as Dallaglio and Neil Back were sin-binned - and it could require similar heroics this time around.

Dallaglio added: "We are going to have to play for 80 minutes and tackle and defend with courage and intensity.

"We are also going to have to cut out the basic errors that cost us in the Six Nations."